Quote: David Cameron has launched his "big society" drive to empower communities, describing it as his "great passion".
In a speech in Liverpool, the prime minister said groups should be able to run post offices, libraries, transport services and shape housing projects.
Also announcing plans to use dormant bank accounts to fund projects, Mr Cameron said the concept would be a "big advance for people power".
Voluntary groups and Labour have queried how the schemes will be funded.
The idea was a central theme in the Conservative general election campaign and Mr Cameron denied that he was being forced to re-launch it because of a lack of interest first time around.
While reducing the budget deficit was his "duty", he said giving individuals and communities more control over their destinies was what excited him and was something that had underpinned his philosophy since he became Conservative leader in 2005. |